4,000 Sikhs to visit Pak to mark Guru Nanak’s birthday

Lahore, Pak: Around 4,000 Sikhs are expected to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday for the 546th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, at his birthplace Nankana Sahib in Punjab province.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) deputy director (shrines) Fraz Abbas said, “Some 3,000 Sikhs are expected to reach Wagah Border on Tuesday from India and 1,000 from European countries to take part in the festivities.” Holy water will be gifted to Indian Sikhs for the first time 4, and the Pakistan government has called in Rangers for their security. Abbas said the ETPB and Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee officials will receive the Indian pilgrims at Wagah Border and ensure they are provided with all facilities related to immigration, customs and foreign exchange. They will also be served food at the border.

He said, “For the first time holy water will be gifted in sealed bottles to Indian pilgrims. We have cleaned the sacred well at Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib (80 km from Lahore) on the complaints of Indian Sikhs And the holy to the pilgrims.

Abbas said, “Since Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary is falling in the Islamic month of Muharram, we have taken extraordinary security measures for the visiting Sikh pilgrims. In addition to the police, Elite Force commandos and Rangers will provide security to the visiting Yatris.” He also said the ETPB, which looks after the holy places of minorities in the country, has begun four special trains in Sindh and Peshawar to bring Sikhs and Hindus to Nankana Sahib for the festivities. The major event will be held on November 6 at Nankana Sahib where pilgrims will also